Ten practical leadership lessons: Congress offers a crucial management case study: What not to do as a leader

Source | timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Chetan Bhagat

This isn’t a column on how Congress can revive itself. The joke will be on me for having any such hopes, especially after the recent inconsequential Congress Working Committee meeting.

However, Congress offers excellent lessons on what not to do as a leader. Here are 10 practical lessons for current and aspiring leaders, whether in corporates, startups or institutions.

1. Don’t blame your juniors: When several Congress leaders gathered courage to write a letter expressing their concerns, the leadership’s first reaction was to blame the letter writers. They called them traitors and questioned their timing. The concerns expressed in the letter were never discussed. As a leader, never do that. Take responsibility and listen to your team.
2. Don’t waste time in useless meetings: The entire seven-hour CWC meet was a drama. Sonia Gandhi offered her resignation, then remained as interim Congress president. This entire meeting could have been replaced with a five word email – I am not going anywhere. As a leader, don’t waste your or your team’s time.

Click here to read the full article